INSPIRING NOVELS: THE OLD MAN AND THE MEDAL BY FERDINAND OYONO

Ferdinand Oyono was one of the legendary writers of the twentieth century, and is considered one of Africa's literary powerhouses. His writings usually depict a sense of anticolonialism.
The Old Man and the Medal gravely satirizes the false pretenses of European colonial rule in Africa. The novel centers around a village medal, Meka, a village elder who as a loyal servant to the white man, is going to receive a medal for his hardwork and sacrifices. While waiting for the medal award ceremony, Meka and his wife are faced with new found skepticism and perspectives.

This book is definitely worth the read, as it points out the hollowness in the colonialist powers' mission in Africa, and opens up discussions of colonial politics around class, race, and Cameroonian life and family values. It is important to note that the novel was initially written in French and translated to English by John Reed.